American Stories ….Amazing Americans The Amazing Author Mark Twain By: Mrs. Grupp Fall 2008

Did you know … Mark Twain Mark Twain was born in Florida, MO, but grew up in Hannibal, MO, along the Mississippi River. During part of his life he piloted a steamboat along the Mississippi. His real name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, and his pen name, Mark Twain, came from his days on the steamboat. Crewmen would yell “mark twain” to test the depth of the water.

Greatest Contributions Mark Twain He wrote the classic novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The novels were based on his life in Hannibal, MO. He shared his humorous stories to audiences all over the world.

Interesting Tidbits Mark Twain He began his writing career as a reporter. The Gilded Age was a novel that made fun of the wealthy. Often he added humor to serious topics such as the bad conditions in California mining camps.

Primary sourceDescriptionCitationURL Picture of Mark Twain in his famous white suit holding a pipe. “[Samuel Langhorne Clemens, three- quarter length portrait, seated, facing slightly right, holding pipe].” Created [between 1900 & 1910]. C1941. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress Mark Twain piloted steamboats on the Mississippi River. A. Janicke & Co. “Our City. (St. Louis, MO.).” Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress ibrary.gov/cgi- bin/page.cgi/aa/write rs/twain/name_2 Sketch of Huckleberry Finn holding a cat. Kemble, Edward Windsor, artist, “Huckleberry Finn.” Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress ibrary.gov/cgi- bin/page.cgi/aa/write rs/twain/huckfinn_1 RESOURCE TABLE slibrary.gov/cgi- bin/page.cgi/aa/writ ers/twain/name_1

RESOURCE TABLE CONTINUED The wealthy and the poor lived very different lives in Twain’s time. “New York city-Rich and Poor; or the Two Christmas Dinners-a Scene in Washington Market, Sketched from Real Life.” From Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, January 4, ibrary.gov/cgi- bin/page.cgi/aa/write rs/twain/humorist_2 Mark Twain playing pool. “Mark Twain, Half- Length Portrait, Standing, Facing Front, Holding Cue Stick at Pool Table.” Between 1870 and Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress ibrary.gov/cgi- bin/page.cgi/aa/write rs/twain/humorist_3